For Little Brothers

06Sep

Every time I’m in in the states, one of my seemingly never-ending tasks is going through my boxes of old stuff, slowing getting rid of anything nonessential. Turns out it truly was going to be never-ending because each time I returned to Haiti, my mom put most of what I had filtered out back into the same boxes. It’s even harder for her than for me to let go of my old life. But I always come across some little gem that I had all but forgotten and yesterday was no exception. I wrote this poem for my brother maybe 7 or 8 years ago. Sheesh, I love that kid. Well, he’s 25 now, but he’ll always be my little brother. What do you think? Should I pursue a career as a poet? 😉

Unfold your legs,

your arms,

your mind.

If I ask you to, will you do it for me?

will you do it for you?

There lies in you a man who’s waiting

Lying, no, but waiting, yes, and fighting

fighting bullies

fighting friends

fighting demons

fighting self.

The fighting and the waiting and the hurting,

I see him, the man who’s been hoping and waiting and hiding and praying.